Details

This paddle is being co-listed with AAP and SOA. Only sign up on one site.

The Euharlee 7-mile section takes you through Bartow County's plantation row. Prior to the Civil War, several plantation homes lined the Etowah here, though there is only one (Valley View) today. The trip also takes you past GA Power Co Plant Bowen, one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the country. The route is primarily peaceful and rural with some residential riverfront development. Shoals and rapids are limited to Native American fish weirs and small ripples. No obstacles exceed Class I in difficulty.

The Hardin Bridge 9-mile section may be the most scenic and popular paddle on the Etowah River in Bartow County. There is a rock garden, followed by a series of islands and shoals along with many fish weirs. This section is mostly rural with some residential development. Obstacles are limited and small shoals do not exceed Class I in difficulty.

This total paddle is 16 miles long and that can tax anyone's arms...so only strong and mighty paddlers for this one.

Launch or put-in site: Put in is river right. Henry Floyd, who also own's Ladd's Farm Supply in Cartersville, makes this private land available for public use. Amenities include a boat ramp, shelters and swings overlooking the river. The road and parking area are gravel. As the put in is better that the take out, we'll do what we usually do not do. We will leave the majority of the cars at the put in and take only vehicles that can haul multiple people to the take out to bring people back to the put in after. Directions to put in: I-75 North to exit 288 toward Cartersville. Turn left onto GA-113/E Main Street. Travel 2.7 miles and turn slight left onto Etowah Drive/GA-113/GA 61 and slight right onto West Ave, 113/61. Travel 2 miles and make right onto Euharlee Road, SW. Travel 1 mile to a gravel road. Turn left and follow the gravel road to the river and boat ramp. (You can try using 932 Euharlee Rd, Cartersville in your GPS)

Take Out Site: Currently, the best take out is an underdeveloped slope at the southeast corner of the US 411 bridge (river right). This is an extremely steep take out location where we will need ropes to haul the boats out. The road to the take out could be a little challenging as well for small vehicles so expect to be hauling your boat some. If you help your friend and they help you doing 2 on a boat we can minimize the pain. The paddle will be well worth the trouble. Directions from put-in to take out: This is an 11-12 mile shuttle. The best I can come up with for a GPS is Reynold's Bridge, Kingston, GA. Come back out the gravel road, and make a left going west on Euharlee Rd SW 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Taylorsville Macedonia Road. Travel 2.5 miles. Turn right onto 411. Immediately cross the bridge over the Etowah, and then turn right onto a gravel drive located on the east side of the bridge. Follow the gravel drive up the hill and down to the river to the take out site. Take out is river right. You can also use these GPS coordinates: N 34 12.561; W 84 58.608 It is on US 411/Hwy 20 Kingston GA between Macdonia Road and Reynolds Bridge Road.

PLEASE RSVP YES ONLY. DO NOT RSVP NO UNLESS YOU CHANGE FROM A YES TO A NO. Barbara Schlefman dr_barbara@bellsouth.net; 770-604-3803 before event 678-438-5593 (day of event)

COST: $5.00 will be collected from all and will be divided among the shuttle drivers for their added gas as well as added driving. This is a BYOB (Bring Your Own Boat), paddle and PFD. Kayaks and Canoes are welcome. Rubber Rafts, Tubes and any other soft floats are not suitable for this trip, please.Required Items to Bring: Boat (Canoe or Kayak), PFD, paddle. Dry bag to keep gear dry and protected. Snack and drinks for lunch and to stay hydrated. River capable shoes or sandals or crocs. No Flip Flops please. A little bit of patience and a great deal of love for the river! Sunscreen, hat, sun glasses and temperature appropriate clothes. Recommended Items to Bring: Camera, Binoculars, extra clothes to wear on the way home if you get wet and for dinner after. A small cooler if you wish, NO glass containers permitted on the river.

Dinner after...The only thing I know is Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse in Euharlee after the paddle; 100 Covered Bridge Rd, Euharlee GA 30145 770 383-3383 www.johnnymitchellssmokehouse.com This is approximately 5 miles away. I'm using this same restaurant for two different paddles so if you know somewhere else, please give me suggestions.

NOTE: this is a short shuttle (approximately 7 miles) for a long paddle as the Etowah winds around on itself.